Reciprocating brush device for cleaning soles of shoes



C. R. ABEN Dec. 4, 1951 RECIPROCATING BRUSH DEVICE FOR CLEANING SOLES OF SHOES 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Dec. 16, 1944 INVENTOR. CLARENCE ABEN C. R. ABEN Dec. 4, 1951 REOIPROCATING BRUSH DEVICE FOR CLEANING SOLES OE SHOES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 f Filed Dec.

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fs? /58 y fis plate 46 is flxedly "attached at 41 to the shaft 43. The link arm 31 is pivotally connected as at 4-8 to the plate 44 and the link arm 36 is pivotally connected as at 49 to the plate 46. Each of these plates carries a roller 59 which projects through the opening 33 or the opening 32. as the case may be.

A iioating supporting frame is provided in the mechanism consisting of a cross head embodying the bars 5| and 52 (see Fig. 4) connected together at their ends by the plates 53 and 54 to provide a box-like structure open at two-of its sides (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 8). head is provided at the opposite end consisting of the bars 54 and 55 connected at their opposite ends by the end plates 56 and 51 to provide a rectangular frame or box-like structure open at two of its sides (see Fig. 11). Connecting these cross heads are guide .rails 58 and 59 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 11). Each of these guide rails is slidably projected through a tubular member 60 or 6| which is mounted between the bars 5| and 5'2 or the bars 54 and 55 (see Fig. 8) -A set screw 62 is threaded through one of the bars into the member 6|) or 6| and a similar set screw 63 is threaded through the other bar into the member 60 or 6|. The plates 44 and 46 are pivotally connected as at 64 and 65 to the cross heads (see Fig. 4).

A brush supporting frame is slidably mounted on the guide rails 58 and 59. 'I'his brush supporting frame consists of a pair of sections of v channel shaped brush retainers 66 in each of which is mounted a brush 61, the mounting being in the nature of a press fit so that the individual brushes may be removed and replaced when necessary. In each of these channels 66, there is a spring 68 at opposite endswhich serves to engage the brush back 69 and preventundue removal of the brush from its retainer 66. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, I provide a plurality of cross bars 16, 1|, 12 and 13. Each of these cross bars is kprovided with a pair of knuckles 14 through which the guide rods 58 and 59 slidably project. Connected to the cross bars 10 and 1| are the brush retainers 66, every other brush retainer being connected to these bars. Connected to the bars 12 and 13 are the other brush retainers. Connected to the bar 12 is a pitman 16 and a pitman 11 is connected to the bar 1|.

For operating the mechanism, I provide a motor 18 driving a pulley wheel 19 connected by the belt 86 to the pulley 8| xedly mounted on the shaft 82. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 82 is a gear 83 which meshes with and serves to drive the pinion 84 which is Xedly mounted on the shaft 85. This shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 5, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, is provided with a pair of cranks 86 and 81; one of these is connected to one end of the pitman 16 and the other to one end of the pitman 11.

`The construction is such that when the motor is operated, the set or brushes connected to the bars 12 and 13 will be reciprocated in one direction and the set connected to the bars 1| and 1U will be reciprocated inthe other direction.

I provide a grating 88 which is adapted to rest upon the rollers 56, the spaces 89 between the grate bars 90 registering with the brushes which are positioned below. The construction is such that when a person steps upon the grating, downward pressure will be exerted upon the rollers 5.6. causingl the plates 44 and 46 on one side of the supporting frame and the similar plates on the-'other'side of the supporting frame to rockv A similar cross downwardly on the shafts 42 and 43 as pivots. As this downward rocking is eiected, the points 64 and 65 on both sides are elevated so that the supporting frame embodying the cross heads is raised, thus carrying the brush retainers upwardly suciently to project the bristles on the brushes above the upper surface of the grate bars. This would, of course, elevate the supporting structure of the motor and the gearing, this supporting structure consisting of the bars 92 and 93 and the spacing and connecting members 94, 95 and 96. There is thus sufficient weight so that when the person steps off of the grating, the plates 44 and 46 and the corresponding plates on the opposite side of the structure will rock downwardly to their normal position so that the bristle of the brushes is normally positioned below the upper surface of the grating. This makes it possible to have a grating and brush arrangement so that a minimum number of both parts is required in order to eiect the proper operation. This is an advantage particularly in public places as it is not necessary for the grating to be lowered to. as great an extent as it would be were the brushes to remain stationary instead of also movingV upwardly as the grating moves downwardly.l

previously mentioned, the iiange 29 is cut away as at 3| and the rods 58 and 59 are projected through the flange at the cut away portion with sufficient clearance to permit these rods to move upwardly when the plates 44 and 46 are rocked. The rods at the opposite end project through the flange 30 and this flange is provided with a slot 91 (see Fig. 10) of suf.

cient clearance so that the rods may move rel.

atively to the ange when the up and down movement of the brush supporting frame is accomplished. Consequently, the assembled structure embodying the cross heads and the guide rods, together with the sets of brushes having their cross bars connected therewith, as well as the motor mounting, is mounted in a loating a1- rangement so that this up and down movement of all of these parts may be eiected.

A switch I6! is provided for controlling -the circuit to the motor, this switch being interposed in a-suitable'circuit and operated by the buttonV or plunger |62. When a person steps on the grating, forcing the plates 44 and 46 to rock so as to elevate the structure, the button |02 will be brought into engagement with the plate |93 (see Fig. 6) mounted on the guide rods |84 and |65 and normally pressed by the springs |66 into engagement with the switch button |02. As the upward movement is effected, the switch will be closed and the motor operated to reciprocate the two sets of brushes so long as a person is standing on the grating.

With a construction of this type, it is apparent that a persons shoes are automatically and very easily and quickly brushed as he passes over the grating, thus preventing the carrying of slush, mud and other undesirable material F into the interior of a building. Experience has l.Y In a shoe cleaning machine of the class dev scribed, a supporting structure having an open top; a swingably mounted cover for said top, having 'an opening 'formed therein; a plurality of cams rockably mounted on said'cover and posi-` tioned within said supporting structure; a supporting frame below said cover and pivotally connected to one end of said cam plates and adapted for upward and downward movement in response to the rocking of said cam plates; guide rods on said supporting frame; a plurality of brush members slideably mounted on said guide rods; a grating positioned in said opening and forming a closure therefore and comprising a plurality o'f spaced apart bars extending parallel to said rods, each of said brush members being in alignment with one of the spaces between said bars; a roller on the opposite ends of said cams for engaging and supporting said grating, said grating being. moveable downwardly upon a predetermined weight being placed thereon, the connection of said cam plates with said supporting frame being such that upon downward movement of said grating said supporting frame will be moved upwardly sufficient to project said brush members to extend above the upper surface of said grating; means for connecting said brushes into a pair of sets, alternate brushes beingconnected in one set and alternate brushes being connected in another set; a rotatable Wheel; a pair of pitmans, each pitman connecting one of said sets eccentrically to said wheel; a motor for rotating said wheel; and a mounting for attaching said motor and said supporting frame and said wheel together for movement vertically in unison.

2. In a cleaning machine of the class described, a pair of shafts; a cam plate mounted on each of said shafts and rockable on the axis thereof; a supporting frame pivotally connected to one end of said cam plates and adapted for upward and downward movement in response to the rocking of said cam plates; guide rods on said supporting frame; a plurality of brushes mounted on said guide rods and reciprocable thereon longitudinally thereof; a grating embodying a plurality of spaced apart bars, the spaces between said bars extending parallel to said rods, and each of said brushes being in alignment with a space between said bars; an engagement member on the opposite end of each of said cam plates for engaging and supporting said grating, said grating being movable downwardly a predetermined distance upon a predetermined Weight being placed thereon, the connection of said cam plates with said supporting frame being such that upon downward movement of said grating said supporting frame will be moved upwardly suilicient to project said brushes above the upper surface of said grating; means for connecting said brushes into a pair of relatively moveable sets, alternate brushes being connected in one set and alternate brushes being connected in another set; a rotatable wheel; a pair of pitmans each pitman connecting one set of said brushes eccentrically to said wheel; and a motor for rotating said wheel, the connection of said pitmans to said wheel being such that upon rotation of said wheel said sets of brushes will be reciprocated simultaneously in opposite directions; and connecting members for connecting said motor and said Wheel to said supporting frame for movement in unison therewith.

" CLARENCE R. ABEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 858,940 Bacon July 2, 1907 1,359,193 Parker Nov. 16, 1920 1,567,832 Broge Dec. 29, 1925 1,661,510 Sproston Mar. 6, 1928 1,743,139 Hoogeweg et al. Jan. 14, 1930 

